Nut-lock.



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

NUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, v1906.

Application filed December 22, 1905. Serial N0- 293,023-

To all, whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. LUSHER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Grant county, in the State of Indiana, (whose post-officeaddress is Van Buren,) have invented a Nut-Lock, as set forth in theanneXed specification.

This invention relates to a device for locking two or more boltsassociated or closely grouped togetheras, for instance, in railjoints.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive, andefficient locking means for rail-joints and other apparatus where aplurality of bolts are employed, the same consisting of few parts andcapable of being easily applied or removed.

With these ends in view and others, as will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, the invention comprises the variousnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts to be more fullydescribed hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claimsappended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments ofwhich the invention is capable, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of arail-joint provided with the improved nut-lock. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of nut-lock. Fig.4 is a plan view thereof with parts broken away.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

Referringto the drawings, 1 and 2 designate the adjacent ends of tworail-sections, and 3 represents fish-plates arranged on opposite sidesof the web of the rails and provided with bolt-receiving openingsadapted to register with the openings in the rails, so as to receive thebolts 4 in accordance with the standard practice of rail construction.The nuts of the bolts are indicated at 6, and

these are held in locked position by a locking.

bar or plate 7, provided along its bottom edge with angular openingscorresponding in shape, size, and relative position to the nuts, so asto be assembled over them. When the nuts'are disposed all on one side ofthe rails, a single locking-bar is sufficient but when the bolts arestaggered on opposite sides of the rail two plates for locking the nutsare employed, as will be readily understood. The locking-bar is held inposition by bolts (indicated at 8) or any other suitable retainingmeans. The locking-bar and adjacent fishplate are provided withregistering openings, the openingsin the fish-plate being tapped so asto receive the threads of the bolts 8. In order to prevent the bolt fromworking loose, rubber rings 9 or other equivalent means are arranged onthe retaining-bolts and held under compression between the fish-plateand locking-bar. By this arrangement the locking-bar is securely held inposition, and by simply removing the bolts 8 it can be lifted off thenuts when it is desired to break the rail-joint.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4: a diflerent form ofretaining means for the locking-bar is provided. The fish-plate 10,disposed on the same side of the rail with the locking-bar 11, ispreferably provided with an offset or recessed portion, (indicated at12,)

said portion being apertured at 13 to register with an aperture 14 inthe locking-bar.

Through these apertures a cotter-pin 15 is I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the apparatuswhich I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof; but I desire tohave it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative andthat various changes may be made as are within'the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a nut-locking device, the combination of aplurality of nuts, a single-piece locking member provided with slots inone of its edges for engaging the nuts, a retaining de vice for thelocking member, and means on the retaining device which is held undercompression by the locking member.

2. In a nut-locking device, the combination of a plurality of nuts andbolts, a locking-bar having notches in one of its longitudinal edges forengaging the nuts, a plate through which the bolts pass and against IIOwhich the nuts bear, a retaining device secured to the plate for holdingthe bar in position, and a compressible member on the retaining deviceWhich is held under compression between and against the plate andlocking-bar.

3. In a locking device, the combination of a plurality of nuts andbolts, parts to be connected, a plate connected to the said parts by thebolts and provided With an apertured recessed portion, a locking-barprovided with slots for engaging the nuts and an aperture registeringWith the aperture of the plate, and a cotter-pin for holdin thelocking-bar in position which extends t rough the aper- 15 ture thereofand of the plate and has its ends spread apart into the recess of theplate.

JAMES L. LUSHER.

Witnesses:

ROBT. D. FoRNsHELL, WILLIAM L. DUCKWALL.

